New book on herioc airmen to be released in September

Lord Ashcroft’s new book, “Heroes of the Skies,” will be published by Headline Review on Sept. 13.

The book tells the stories behind the world’s largest collection of medals for gallantry in the air that were awarded to more than 80 British, Commonwealth and other Allied airmen.

Heroes of the Skies uses new material from pilots’ log books, eyewitnesses, letters, citations, interviews and other sources to tell the stories of air combat, bombing raids and other bravery displayed by airmen as long ago as the First World War and up to the on-going conflict in Afghanistan. The bulk of the stories are from the Second World War and they include some of the greatest fighter aces from the conflict.

The foreword has been written by Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Michael Beetham, a decorated Second World War bomber pilot and now president of the Bomber Command Association.

This will be Ashcroft’s four book in the Heroes series. As well as being a military historian, he is an international businessman and philanthropist. He has built up the world’s largest collection of Victoria Crosses (VCs), Britain and the Commonwealth’s most prestigious award for gallantry. The decorations, more than 170 in total, are now on display at the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum in London.

All royalties from “Heroes of the Skies” will be donated to the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund. The fund is the RAF’s leading charity, looking after serving and former members of the RAF and their partners and dependent children.

“Heroes of the Skies” can be pre-ordered on Amazon.co.uk. It will be available in bookshops starting Sept. 13.